Relay construction and method of making the same

ABSTRACT

A relay construction having a housing provided with ports therein and with valve means being disposed in the housing and being interconnected with the ports by internal passages provided in the housing. The housing includes a plate that is adapted to be selectively repositioned relative to the remainder of the housing to change the path arrangement of the passages and, thus, the operating function of the relay construction, the plate being adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the housing to various selected positions and also being adapted to be disposed in different stacked relations with the remainder of the housing along the longitudinal axis thereof.

United States Patent 1191 Moon, Jr.

[4 1 Aug. 26, 1975 William T. Moon, Jr., Knoxville, Tenn.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company,

Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: June 11, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 368,696

Taylor 137/270 X Hcttingcr 137/270 X Primary Examiner-Alan CohanAttorney, Agent, or Firm-candor, Candor & Tassone 5 7 ABSTRACT A relayconstruction having a housing provided with ports therein and with valvemeans being disposed in the housing and being interconnected with theports by internal passages provided in the housing. The housing includesa plate that is adapted to be selec tively repositioned relative to theremainder of the housing to change the path arrangementof the passagesand, thus, the operating function of the relay construction, the platebeing adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the housing tovarious selected positions and also being adapted to be disposed indifferent stacked relations with the remainder of the housing along thelongitudinal axis thereof.

13 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 2 6 i975 SHEET 1 BF PATENTFUB 3,901,267

sum 2 (IF 7 2O SIGNAL 29 CONTROL "OFF" 84 73 6Q 39 SUPPLY FIG. 5

NORMALLY CLOSED 35 CONTROL 29 84 73 "ON ll 34 SUPPLY 4O 2 83 Fl G. 6 -0NORMALLY CLOSED SUPPLY SUPPLY CONTROL f a 40 VENT 47 3O NORI\ A AI L YPEN 84 m t)-* 86 SUPPLY M} 73 OFF 89 34 6| 3940 CONTROL I No.2 32 47 798| 57 33 88 S6 5 I 84 COM-50L DlvERl 'ER $2 50 86 SUPPLY SKgTIAL 7 34 i339 CONTROL No.2 32 47 79 3O DIVERTER PATENTEDIUBZBIQYS 3, 901 267SI-IZET BF SUPPLY 54 ||o ALARM DETECTIQR 6| 39 OPEN 40 8O VENT I04 62.02 33 3O 79 I05 I 53% FIG.13 1 3 III 34 ,.0 6| 2O ALARM "CLOSED" I I04VENT 8O 32 I06 35 5O 79 I05 FIG.14 I VENT I D jib no ALARM DETECTOR 84 3"OPEN" SUPPLY 3| I06 PATENTED 3,901,267

PATENTEDAUBZBIQYS 3, 90 1 267 SHEET 7 o Z VENT /IIO 20 ALARM DETECTOR 6|I "CLOSED" su PLY I04 79 8| FIG.19 2| II T I14 35 34 2O CONTROL SII'GN6! 73 OFF 84 32 4o SUPPLY I04 II?) 3| I06 2| 33 7 4 II4 VENT I 3 54 5CONTROL 84 7 32 SUPPLY SIGNAL 39 oVII 40 This invention relates to animproved relay construction and to an improved method for making such arelay eonstruction or the like.

It is well known that relay constructions have been provided whereineach has a. particular operating function. For example, relayconstructions have been provided that will each act as a normally closedrelay wherein fluid from a source is not interconnected by theparticular normally closed relayto a fluid, operated control deviceuntil a fluid signal is directed to such relay construction. Similarly,normally open relay constructions have been provided whereneachinterconnects the fluid source to the fluid operated control device onlywhen a fluid signal is not being .received by the particular relayconstruction-. Also, relay constructions have been provided where eachprovides a diverting function. such as where the particular relay construction would direct the source of fluid to-only one fluid operatedcontrol device when the relay construction is not receiving a fluidsignal andwill direct the fluid source to only another fluid operatedcontrol device when the relay construction. is receiving a fluid signal.

It a feature of applicants companion patent application, Docket No.2332-FS, filed Jun. 27., 1973, Ser. No. 3 73.94l, now U.S. Pat. No.-3.857,,41] to provide a single relayconstructionfor providing thefunction of a normally closed relay, anormally openrelay, and adiverting relay so that the single relay construction can be utilized tofunction. selectively ,as a normally closed relay, as a normally openrelay or as a diverting relay.

The above feature isaccomplished, by utilizing the ports of the housingin a different manner as well as by utilizing a unique diaphragmmember-of the housing to provide balancing means for the poppet valvemember of the valve means of the housing as will be apparenthereinafter. I

It is also well known that relay constructions-have been.provided thatwilleach act as a normally open relay with an upstream orifice so thatan alarm or.indicator will be directlyinterconnected to the fluid sourcethrough the normally open, relay construction unless the same is,transferred by a detector being disposed'in a closed position thereofand thus causingthe supply pressure to transfer the relay constructionto a closed position thereof by feeding supply pressure from the supplyport through an upstreamorifice to thefluid opcrating chamber thereof.Conversely,--relay construc tions have been provided that will each actas a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice so that the bledthrough -.the

fluid operating chamber to lock the relay construction in its opencondition. 7

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to permit the singlerelay construction of the aforementioned patent application, Docket No.2332-FS, to'further act selectively as a normally open relay with anupstream orifice, a normally closed relay with an upstream orifree or asa normally closed relay with'a downstream orifice.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a method for making sucha relay construction or the like.

In particular, the relay construction of this invention has a housingprovided with port means and with passage'means and valve meansinterconnected with the port means. The housing has control meanstherein for causing the relay construction to selectively act as anormally closed relay, as a normally open relay, or as.

pose relay as willbe apparent hereinafter.. Such control means comprisesa balancing means for a movable valve member of the valve means, thebalancing means being adapted to balance thevalve member only when therelay construction is acting as a normally open relay or as a divertingrelay whereas when the relay is acting as a normally closed relay, thebalancing means does not act on the valve member.

The'housing means includes a part thereof that is adapted to beselectively repositioned for changing the path arrangement of thepassage means and, thus, the operating function of the relayconstruction, one .selected position of the movable part of the housingmeans causing the relay construction to operate as the above-describedgeneral purposerelay, another selected position of the movable part ofthe housing means causing the relay construction to operate as a Inormally open relay with an upstream orifice, another another .selectedposition' of the movable part. of the .housing means causing the relayconstruction to operate as a normally closed relay with an upstreamorifice.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedrelay construction having one or more of the novel features set tershown or described. I

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method formaking such'a relay construction or the like.

1 Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent froma reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional view of theimproved relay construction ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is areduced bottom view of the relay construction of FIG. I.

stream oriflce wherein once the relay is transferred by having a fluidsignal directed to the fl uid operat'ing chamber of the relay, the relayconstruction opens the fluid supply to the control port and the fluid inthe con 1 trol port is bled through a downstream orifice to-the FIG. 3is a reduced cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a reduced, fragmentary, exploded perspective view illustratingcertain parts at the bottom of the relay construction of FIG. I.

FIG .5- is'a reduced view similar to FIG. I and illustrates therelayconstruction when acting as a normally closed relay and with the signalmeans thereof in an forth above or hereinaf- FIG. 6 is a view similar toFIG. and illustrates the relay construction acting as a normally closedrelay with the signal meansinan fon" condition] FIG. 7 is a view similarto FIG. 5 and illustrates the relay construction acting as a normallyopen relay with the signal means in an off condition.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to=FIG. 7 and illustrates the relayconstruction acting as a normally'open relay with the signal means in anon condition.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates the relayconstruction acting as a diverting relaywith the signal means in an offcondition. y I

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and-illustrates the relayconstruction acting as adiv'erting relay with the signal means in an"on" condition. I

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the relayconstruction when converted to a normally' open relay construction withan upstream orifice.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the plate parts ofthe relay construction when acting in the condition illustrated in FIG.11;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates the relayconstruction acting as a normally open relay construction with anupstream orifice and with the detector in anopen condition thereof.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 and illustrates the relayconstruction of FIG. 13 when the detector is in a closed conditionthereof. i I

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the'relay construction when the same has been changed to operate as anormally closed relay with an upstream orifice. I I i FIG. 16 is areduced cross-sectional view taken on line l6-l6 of FIG. 15.

FIG. '17 is a view similar'to FIG. 12 and illustrates the plate parts ofthe relay construction ofFIG. '16.,

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. '13 and illustratesthe relayconstruction acting as a normally closed relay construction with anupstream orifice and with the detector in an open" condition thereof. HI

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG I S and illustrates the relayconstruction of FIG. 18 when the detector is in a closed" conditionthereof. I

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the relayconstruction when acting as normally closed relay construction with adownstream orifice. FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 17 and illustratesthe position of the plate parts of the relay construction of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates the relayconstruction when acting as a normally closed relay construction with adownstreamorifice and with the signal in an off condition. I

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 and illustrates the relayconstruction of FIG. 22 when the signal is in an on" condition.

While the various features of this invention arehere-.

normally open relay with an upstream orifice or as a normally closedrelay with a downstream orifice, it is to be understood that the variousfeaturcs'of this invention can be utilized singly or in =any combinationthereof to provide other types of relay constructions if desired. i

Therefore.this inventionis not to'be limited to only the embodimentillustrated in th'edrawings. because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention. IReferring now to FIG. 1, the improved relay construction of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 andcomprises a housing means 21 formed from a plurality of parts disposedin stacked aligned'relation and being suitably secured together byconventional threaded fastening means 22. v

For example, the housing means 2] can comprise a plurality-of parts 23,24, 25, 26 and 27 disposed in stacked aligned relation with flexiblegasket or diaphragm sealing means 28, 29, 30 'and 31 respectivelydisposed therebetwe en 'as illustrated to fluid seal the parts 23-27together \vhen the same are secured together by the fastening means 22.i

The housing means 21 of the relay construction 20 is provided with fiveports 32, 33, 34, 35and'36 interconnecting withpassage means and valvemeans'formed in the housing means 2Iand being respectively generallyindicated by the reference numerals'37 and 38.

The-passagerrieans 37 0f the relay construction 20 defines a stationaryvalve seat 39 in thehousing means 2] which is adapted to be opened andclosed by a poppet valve member 40 normally urged to its closedposition'against the valve seat 39 a compression spring 41 having oneend 42 bearing against the poppet valve member 40 and the other 'end 43bearing against a housing part 44 heldstationary in the housing part 25.The housing part 44 has'a-passage 45 passing therethrou'gh and looselyreceiving a steam portion 46 of the poppet valve member 40 so as toguide axial movement thereof relative to thevalve seat 39'. i

The poppet valve member 40 isdisposed within a chamber 47 formed in'thehousing means 21 and being fluidlyinterconnected by a passage 48 of thepassage means 37 to the port 32,-the housing part 44 having a suitablepassage 49 formed therethrou'gh so that the en- "37 to the port 35 asillustrated.

The valve means 38 of the relay construction 20 includes a tubularmember 52 being seeiired at its upper end 53 to an'endplate 54 thatcloses off the upper end 53 of the tubular member 52 and is adapted tobe disposed against the flexible diaphragm 29 as illustrated.

The housing means 2] provides two annular sealing means 55 and 56 toseal along the tubular member 52 in'axial spaced relationth'erewithwhile permitting the tubular member 52 to move axially relative thereto,the sealing means 56 sealing the chamber from another chamber 57 formedin the housing means 21 and being interconnected by a passage 58 ofthepassage means 37 to the port '33. The other annular sealing means .fluidseals the chamber 57 from'another chamber 59 formed in the housing means21 and being interconnected by a passage 60 of the passage means 37 tothe port 36.

The chamber 59 is fluid sealed by thediaphragm 29 from anotherchamber6l-formed in-the"'housing means 21 and defined between theflexiblediap'hragrn- 29 and the end plate 23*of the housing m'eans2-l. Asuitable formed passage 62 ofthe passage means 37 fluidlyinterconnectsthe chamber 61 to the port '34.

The sealing means 56 for the. tubular member 52 comprises an annularpacking or sealing means 63 received 'inan annular recess 64' formed"in'the housing part intermediate the chambers 50 and 57 and beingheldtherein-by an annular retaining ring 64 urged toward a'shoulder 65of the housing means-2'1 by. a compression spring 66'. 1

The annular sealing means 55 includes an annular retainer 67'having anannular groove 68 therein=receiving an annular packing or sealing means69, the retainer 67 having an annular flange 70 held against an annularshoulder 71 of the housing 21 by a snap split-ring 72.

The lower end 73 of the tubular member 52 acts'as a movable valve seatand is adapted to engage against a resilient upper end 74 of the' poppetvalve member 40 to have the end 73 closed .by the valve member 40 whenthe movable valve'seat 73 is moved downwardly through the valve seat 39in a manner hereinafter described, the valve seat 73 leading to theinterior of the tubular'member 52 with thein'terior of the tubularmember 52 being adapted to be fluidly connected to the chamber 57 byopening means 75 formed through the tubula'r'member 52 as illustrated. f4

The movablevalve seat 73 is normallyu'rged to the opencondition-illustrated'in FIG. 1 bye-compression spring 76 having one end77 bearing against the end plate 54 and the other end 78 bearing againstthe stationary retainer 67 a's'illustrat'ed whereby'the compressionspring 76 tends to move-the-diaphragm 29 in-its up condition-asillustrated in FIG. 1 and thereby reduce the volume of the chamber 61 aswill be apparent hereinafter. 1 t

The lower flexible diaphragm separates the cham ber 47 from anotherchamber 79 of the housing means 21 that is defined between "the flexiblediaphragm 30 and the'end plate 27, the chamber 79 being interconnectedby a passage 80 of the passage means 37, as welI as by a cutout 81 inthe flexiblegasket 3l, to the port 33 and, thus, to the chamber '57 asillustrated. I l

'The flexible diaphragm 30"and itsassociated chamber 79 are adapted toact'as a fluid balancing means for the poppet valve member in amanner-hereinafter described whereby when fluid pressure is received inthe chamber 79, the side 82 of the flexible diaphragm 30 is urgedupwardly by such fluid pressure against the end 83 of the poppet valvemember 40 to tend to .urge the poppet member 40 toward its elosedposition against the valve seat 39 for a purpose hereinafter describedwhereby the force of the fluid in balancing chamber 79 tends tobalance'the force of 'any fluidin the chamber tending to'move the valvemember 40 away from the valve seat 39.

From theabove, it canbe seen that the relay construction 20of thisinvention can be formed from are]- atively smallnumbe r of parts and canbe'operated asa general purpose "relay thatcan function as a normallyclosed relay. as a normally open relay or as a diverting relay in amanner now to be described by merely changing the portinterconnection'thereoffi I When it is desired to utilize'therclayc'onstruction 20 of this invention as a normally closed'relay-theport-32 is-inter'connected to=a fluid source 84 as illustrated in FIGS.5 and 6 \while the port'35 is interconnected to a fluid operated controldevice 85. The port 34 'isfluidly interconnected to a fluid signalgenerating device or means '86 whilethe port 33 is interconnected tovent means 87. which could comprise the atmosphere or a reservoir asdesired, the port 36 merely being vented to the atmosphere" asillustrated or to another vent means a's-desired.

Whentherelay construction 20 is disposed in the control system in themanner illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be seen that when the fluidsignal generating means' '86 is in its off condition, so that the sameis not delivering any fluid pressure signalito the port 34 and, 'thus,to the chamber 61 of the relay construction 20, the compression spring76. maintains the movable valve seat 73 in the open conditionillustrated and the compression spring -41 maintains the poppet valvemember 40 in its closed position against the valve seat 39 .whereby thefluid pressure being supplied by the supply means 84 to the port 32 isblocked'by the closed valve seat 39 so; that the same cannot reach thefluid operated control device 85 which is deactivated by beinginterconnected to the vent means 87 through the open valve seat 73.Also, the fluid pressure being delivered-by thesouree '84-into the port32 of the relay construction 20 completely surrounds the poppet valvemember 40 to assist the spring-41 in holding the poppet valvemember 40in its closed position, thefluid pressurein the chamber 47 actingagainst the upper side 82 of the flexible diaphragm 30 to hold the sameaway from the end 83 of the poppet valve member 40 as illustrated inFIG. 5 as the chamber 79 is interconnected by the passage to the-ventmeans 87 and thereby does not have any fluid pressure therein wherebythe fluid pressure in the chamber 47vacts on the end 83 of the valvemember 40. v

However, when the signal generating device 86 delivers afluidsignal tothe port 34 of the relay construction 20, such fluid signal is directedby the passage 62 to the chamber 61 and acts on the diaphragm 29 to movethe diaphragm 29 and the tubular member 52 downwardly in opposition tothe force of the compression spring 76 in the manner illustrated in FIG.6 whereby the movable valve-seat 73'engages against the poppet valvemember 40 and moves the same downwardly in op'position'toxthe-force ofits compression spring 41 as illustratedin 'FIG. 6 tonot only close thevalve seat 73,-but to also open the stationary valve seat 39 whereby thefluid-source 84 is now interconnected through the open valve seat 39 tothe fluid operated control device to operate 'th'e; same as the closedvalve seat 73 disconnects'the fluid operated device 85 from the ventmeans When the signal generating device 86 subsequently terminates thesignal'being directed to the port 34 and causes venting of 'the port 34in a manner well known in the art; the subsequent evacuation of thefluid pressure from the chamber 6] permits the compression spring 76 toreturnthe tubular member-52 from the posit'ion'illustrated in FIG. 6back to-the position illustrated in FIG. 5 whereby thcpoppet valve 40,under the force of the compression spring 41, is adapted to closeagainstvthe valve seat 39 while the movable valve seat 73*moves furtheraway from the poppet valve member 40 to cause opening of the movablevalve seat 73 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, the fluidsource 84 is now disconnected by the closed valve seat 39 from the fluidoperated control device 85 and the fluid operated control device 85 isnow interconnected to the vent means 87 through the valve seat 73 andpassage 75 in the tubular member 72 as illustrated whereby the fluidoperated device 85 is effectively deactivated.

Therefore, it can be seen that when it isdesired for the relayconstruction 20 to act as a normally closed relay construction, therelay construction 20 merely has the port means 32-35 interconnected inthe manner illustrated in FIGS. and 6.

. When it is desired to utilize the relay construction to act as anormally open relay construction, the relay construction 20 isinterconnected in a system in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In particular, the fluid supply 84 is now interconnected to the port 34while the vent means 87 is interconnected to the port 32, the fluidoperated control device 85 and the fluid signal generating means 86respectively being interconnected to the ports 35 and 34 as illustrated.

Thus, as long as the signal generating means 86 is not delivering afluid signal to the port 34, no fluid pressure is in the chamber 61 sothat the movable valve seat 73 is in the up" or open condition asillustrated in FIG. 7 and the poppet valve member is closed against thestationary valve seat 39. Accordingly, the fluid supply 84 is fluidlyconnected through the opened valve seat 73 to the port 35 and, thus, tothe fluid operated control device 85 to operate the same as long as thesignal generating means 86 is in the off condition as illustrated inFIG. 7.

' It can be seen that if it were not for the fluid balancing diaphragm30, the fluid pressure from the port 33 being delivered through the openvalve seat 73 to the fluid operated control device 85, when the relayconstruction 20 is in the condition illustrated in FIG. 7, will actthrough the valve seat 39 and against the top 74 of the valve member 40to push the same away from the valve seat 39 in opposition to the forceof the compression spring 41 and thereby cause the fluid supply 84 to bedirected to the vent means 87 so that the fluid operated control device84 could not be operated in the above manner.

However, because the passage 80 and cut out 81 in the flexible gasket 31fluidly interconnects the supply pressure port 33 to the chamber 79, thefluid pressure in the chamber 79 acts against the underside of thediaphragm 30 and urges the same into engagement with the end 83 of thestem 46 of the poppet valve member 40 to urge the same against the valveseat 39 so that the fluid pressure in chamber 79 balances the pressureaction on the top 74 of the valve member 40 whereby the force of thespring 41 is sufficient to maintain the valve member 40 in its closedposition against its valve seat 39.

However, when the fluid signal generating means 86 is in the on"condition as illustrated in FIG. 8 and thereby delivering fluid pressureto the chamber 61, the fluid pressure in the chamber 61 drives themovable valve seat 73 downwardly in the manner previously described toclose the valve seat 73 and open thepoppet valve member 40 away from thestationary valve seat 39 whereby the fluid supply 84 is now disconnectedfrom the chamber 50 because of the closed movable valve seat 73 whilethe chamber 50 is now interconnected to the chamber 47 and, thus, to thevent 87 through the opened valve seat 39 so that the fluid operatedcontrol device 85 is interconnected to the vent means 87 and is, thus,deactivated.

Since the area of the upper diaphragm 29 having the fluid pressure beingdirected by the chamber 61 thereagainst is relatively large, the forceprovided by the diaphragm 29 in moving the movable valve seat 73downwardly to open the valve member 40 away from the valve seat 39 fullyovercomes not only the force of the compression springs 76 and 41, butalso fully overcomes the force of the pressure in the balancing chamber79 so that the poppet valve member 40 can be readily opened against thepressure in the balancing chamber 79.

Subsequently, when the signal generating device 86 terminates its signalso that the same causes venting of the pressure in the chamber 61 in amanner conventional in the art, the force of the compression springs 76and 41, as well as the force of the balancing diaphragm 30, moves thepoppet valve member 40 and its movable valve seat 73 upwardly until thepoppet valve member 40 seats into engagement with the valve seat 39 inthe manner illustrated in FIG. 7. The movable valve seat 73 thencontinues upwardly under the force of the compression spring 76 to openthe valve seat 73 so that the fluid supply 84 can again beinterconnected to the fluid operated control device 85 as illustrated toactivate the same.

When it is desired to utilize the relay construction 20 as a divertingrelay, the relay construction 20 can be interconnected in the mannerillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

In particular, it can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10 that the fluid supply 84is now interconnected to the port 35 while a first fluid operatedcontrol device 88 is interconnected to the port 33 and a second fluidoperated control device 89 is interconnected to the port 32, the signalgenerating means being interconnected to the port 34 as illustrated.

With the signal generating means 86 in an off condition thereof so thatno fluid pressure is being delivered to the chamber 61, the movablevalve seat 73 is in an open condition as illustrated in FIG. 9 while thepoppet valve member 40 is in a closed condition against the valve seat39. Thus, the fluid supply 84 is interconnected through the open valveseat 73 to the port 33, and, thus, to the first fluid operated controldevice 88 to operate the same while such fluid pressure supply means 84is prevented from being interconnected to the second fluid operatedcontrol device 89 by the closed valve seat 39, the control device 89,thus, being deactivated as the same can be vented through suitable bleedmeans thereof in a manner well known in the art.

As previously stated, if the balancing diaphragm 30 was notutilized, thefluid pressure acting on the top 74 of the poppet valve member 40 at thechamber 50 would cause the poppet valve member 40 to be opened againstthe force of the compression spring 41. However, because fluid pressureis being delivered from the chamber 57 through the passage and cutout 81to the chamber 79 in the manner previously described, such fluidpressure in the chamber 79 causes the diaphragm 30 to engage against theend 83 of the poppet valve member 40 and urge the same toward a closedposition to thereby balance the force of the pressure tending to openthe poppet valve member 40 so that the force of the compression spring41 is sufficicnt to maintain the poppet valve member 40in its closedposition against the stationary valve seat 39.

When the signal generating means 86 delivers a fluid signal to thechamber 61, the fluid pressure in the chamber 61 now drives the movablevalve seat 73 downwardly to cause the same to-be closed by the poppetvalve member 40 while moving the poppet valve member 40 away from thevalve seat 39 as illustrated in FIG. 10 so that the fluid supply 84 isnow interconnected through the opened valve seat 39 to the second fluidoperated control device 89 to operate the same while the closed valveseat 73 now disconnects the fluid supply 84 from the first fluidoperated control device 88 so that the same will be deactivated throughsuitable bleed means thereof in a manner conventional in the art.

When the signal generating means 86 terminates its fluid signal to thechamber 61, the chamber 61 is vented in a manner conventional in the artand the poppet valve member 40 returns to its closed position againstits valve seat 39 while the movable valve 73 moves to the open conditionas illustrated in 39 so that the fluid supply 84 is again interconnectedto the first control device 88 while the fluid supply 84 is disconnectedfrom the second control device 89.

In all of the operations of the relay construction as illustrated inFIGS. 5-10, as well as in other figures as hereinafter described, it canbe seen that any dashpot effect created by the chamber 37 of the housingmeans 21 on the movement of the diaphragm 29 is eliminated by having thechamber 37 continuously interconnected to the atmosphere or otherventmeans through the port 36.

From the above, it can be seen that the relay construction 20 of thisinvention is readily adapted to automatically act as a normally'closedrelay, a normally open relay, or as a diverting relay depending upon howthe fluid supply and other devices areinterconnected to the port meansthereof without requiring any change in the internal or externalstructure of the relay construction 20.

However, it is a feature of this invention to cause the relayconstruction 20 previously described to selectively act as the generalpurpose relay set forth above wherein the same can act as a normallyclosed relay, a normally open relay or as a diverting relay, or toselectively act as a normally open relay with an upstream orifice, toselectively act as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice orto selectively act as a normally closed relay with a downstream orifice.

This features is accomplished by repositioning the previously describedplate means or gasket member 31 in a rotational direction about thelongitudinal axis of the housing means 21 as well as disposing the samein a different stacked relation with the parts 25, 30, 26, and 27, alongthe longitudinal axis as will be apparent hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3and 4, the flexible gasket 31 has anindicating tab 100 projecting outwardly from one corner thereof so thatthe same will project beyond the parts 25, 30, 26 and 27 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 2 regardless of where the member 31 is disposed inthe stack of parts 27, 31, 26, 30 and 25. As will be apparenthereinafter,- the indicator means 100 will thus indicate the rotationalposition of the gasket 31 relative to the housing means 21 and, thus.indicate the operating function that the relay construction 20 willproduce.

If desired, the end plate 27 can be provided with a coding 101 on theoutside thereof which will indicate what the operating function of therelay construction 20 will be when the-indicator of the gasket 31 isdisposed in any of the indicated conditions thereof.

ln particular, when the gasket 31 is disposedin the :rotational positionillustrated in FIG. 2 and is disposed intermediate the members 26 and 27as illustrated in FIGS. I and 4, the indicating means lOl shows that therelay construction will operate as an Al relay which is a generalpurpose relay that will function as a normally closed relay, a normallyopen relay, or as a diverting relay in the manner previously describedmerely depending uponv how the fluid supply and other devices areinterconnected to the port means thereof.

When the member 31 is rotated ninety degrees in a counterclockwisedirection as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the indicator 100 will nowindicate on the end plate 27 that the relay construction 20 will operateas a El relay which is a relay construction that is normally open withan upstream orifice.

When the gasketrmember 31 is rotated to the position illustrated in FIG.16 and disposed intermediate the housing part 25 and the plate 26 whilethe flexible diaphragm 30 is disposed intermediate the plate 26 and theend plate 27 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 17, the indicating means101 on the end plate 27 will indicate that the relay construction isacting as a B2 relay which is a normally closed relay with an upstreamorifice.

When the gasket member 31 is disposed in the position illustrated inFIG. 20 and disposed between the housing part 25 and plate 26 with thefleixble gaskeet 30 being disposed between the plate 26 and the endplate 27, the indicating means 101 on the end plate 27 indicates thatthe relay will act as a B1 relay which is a normally closed relay with adownstream orifice.

Therefore, it can be seen that by merely changing the position'of oneplate part 31 of the housing means 21 of the relay construction 20, thesingle relay construction 20 can be utilized to operate as a differenttype of relay construction.

The particular details and operation of the relay construction 20 whenacting as a normally open relay construction with an upstream orifice,as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice and as a normallyclosed relay with a downstream orifice will now be described.

When the gasket'3l is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 11,l2, l3 and 14, it can be seen that the cutout 81 in the gasket 31 isdisposed in alignment with passages 102 and 103 formed respectively inthe plate members 26 and 30 which, in turn, are disposed in alignmentwith a passage 104 formed in the housing part 25 and leading from thelower surface 105 thereof to the port 34, the passage having an orificeor restrictor portion 106 disposed therein in advance of the port 34.Thus, it can be seen that the passage 104 has an orifice 106 therein andnot only is in fluid communication with the port 34 but is also in fluidcommunication with the passage 62 that leads to the fluid operatingchamber 61 for operating'the movable valve means 73 for a purposehereinafter described.

The cutout 81 in the gasket 31 also has a branch part 107 disposed influid communication with aligned ports 108 and l09formed respectively inthe plate means 26 and 30 which, in turn, are disposed in alignment withthe passage 80 that has previously described and that is formed in thehousing part and le'adsto the port As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14,the relay construction 20 when acting as a normally open relay with anupstream orifice has the port 33 interconnected to the fluid supply 84,the port 32 interconnected to the vent 87. The port 34 is interconnectedto a detector 110 which when the same isnot detecting a certaincondition will be in an open condition and thus interconnecting the port34 to a vent or to the atmosphereand when the detector is detecting acertain condition, the detector 110 will close and thereby causethe port34 to be disconnected from the vent or the atmosphere. The port 35 isinterconnected to a fluid operated alarm or signal indicating means 111which will be operated only if the relay construction 20 remainsin thenormally open condition as illustrated in FIG. 13.

With the detector in the open" condition illustrated in FIG. 13, it canbe seen that the fluid supply is adapted to pass through the open valveseat 73 to the port 35 and thus will operate the alarm or indicator 111to fully indicate that the relay construction 20 has not transferred asthe detector is not detecting a certain condition. I

Since the passage 80 is interconnected to the supply port 33 and isfeeding through the cutout 81 in the gasket 31 not only into the chamber79 to cause the flexible diaphragm to balance the poppet valve member 40and thus maintain the same in the closed condition against thestationary valve seat 39 in the manner previously described so that thesupply 84 cannot be interconnected to vent 87, but also the :passage 80is interconnected by the cutout 81 in the gasket 31 to the passage 104.However, since the passage 104 has the orifice106 therein the fluidpressure from the passage 80 bleeds through the orifice 106 into thepassage 104 and is vented through the port 34 by the open detector 110so that no fluid pressure can build up in the chamber 61 to cause therelay construction 20 to transfer.

When the detector 110 does detect a certain condition, the same closesin the manner illustrated in FIG. 14 and thereby blocks theinterconnection of the port 34 to vent or atmosphere so that the fluidpressure bleeding through the orifice 106 into the passage 104 can nowbe directed by the passage 62 to the chamber 61. When the pressurebuilds up sufficiently in the chamber 61, the pressure causes the relay20 to transfer by moving the movable valve member 73 downwardly to beclosed by the valve member 40 while opening the valve member 40 awayfrom the valve seat 39 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 14 whereby thesupply 84 is now disconnected from the port 35 -.by the closed valveseat 73 while the alarm 111 is interconnected through the now open valveseat 39 to the vent 87 whereby the alarm 111 is turned off and willremain turned off as long as the relay construction 20 remains in theposition illustrated in FIG. 14 by the detector being in its closedposition.

Should the detector subsequently move to an open" condition thereof, thesame will then connect the port 34 back to the atmosphere or ventwhereby the fluid pressure in the chamber 61 will be vented and therelay construction will return to the position illustrated in FIG. 13 inthe manner previously described.

When the gasket 31 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 15;16 and l7,the cutout 81 therein is only interconnecting the passage 104to the chamber 79 which is always in fluid communication with the port32 through the previously described housing opening 49. Since theflexible diaphragm 30 is now disposed between the plate parts 26 and 27as illustrated in FIG. 15, the diaphragm'i30 no longer will act as abalancing diaphragm and merely acts as a seal closing off the variousopenings in the plate 26 as illustrated.

With the gasket 31 disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16and 17, the relay construction 20 will now act as a normally closedrelay with an upstream orifice when the same is interconnected into asystem in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19.

' In particular, the supply 84 is interconnected to the port 32 whilethe vent 87 is interconnected to the port '33. The detector remainsinterconnected to the port 34 while the alarm 111 remains interconnectedto the port 35. I

Thus, when the detector is not detecting a certain condition so as to beopen and thereby interconnecting the port 34 to the atmosphere or vent,the relay construction 20 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 18wherein the poppet valve member 40 is fully seated against the fixedvalve seat 39 so that the supply 84 is not interconnected to the alarm111 and the alarm 111 is interconnected through the open valve member 73to the vent 87'to indicate that the detector is not detecting a certaincondition. 7

However, when the detector 110 does detect a certain condition, the'samecloses and the fluid pressure from the inlet port 32 that passes intothe chamber 79 and the cutout 81 in the gasket 31 to the passage 104 andthrough the orifice 106 can now build up in the chamber 61 of the relayand cause the same to transfer in themanner illustrated in FIG. 19 bymoving the movable valve member 73 downwardly to close the same and openthe poppet valve member 40 away from the valve seat 39. Thus, the supplyport 32 isnow interconnected to the alarm port 35 through the open valveseat 39, the vent 87 being closed by the movable valve seat 73 beingclosed by the poppet valve member 40. Accordingly, the alarm orindicator 111 will now indicate that the relay construction 20 hasbeentransferred by the detector 110 having detected a certain condition andwill remain on until the detector 110 is again movedto an open conditionto vent the fluid pressure from the chamber 61 and permit the relayconstruction to move back to the condition illustrated in FIG. 18.

When the gasket 31 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 20and 21, it can. be seen that another cutout l12 therein nowinterconnects the passage 104 in the housing means 25 to another passage113 formed in the housing 25 and leading to the port 35, such cutout 112not being in fluid communication with the chamber 79.

Thus, with the gasket 31 in the, position illustrated in FIGS. 20 and21, the relay construction 20 can now act as a normally closed relayconstruction with a downstream orifice when the same is interconnectedinto a fluid system in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23.

In particular, the fluid supply 84 is interconnected to the port 32, thevent 87 is interconnected to the port 33. a fluid operated controldevice 114 is interconnected to the port 35 and a fluid pressure signalgenerating device 115 is interconnected to the port 34.

When the signal device 115 is not directing a fluid signal into the port34 so that no fluid pressure will occur in the chamber 61, the supplyport 32 is blocked by the poppet valve member 40 being disposed in aclosed condition against the valve seat 39 so that the control device114 is interconnected through the opened valve seat 73 to the vent 87.

However, when the signal device 115 sends a fluid signal into the port34, the orifice 106 permits the fluid pressure to build up in thechamber 61 and thereby cause the relay to transfer in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 23 wherein the valve member 40 is moved away fromthe valve seat 39 to interconnect the fluid supply 84 to the controldevice 114 so that the control device 114 can now be operated as thevent 87 is blocked by the now closed valve seat 73.

Should the signal device 115 now terminate the signal to the port 34once the relay construction 20 has transferred in the manner illustratedin FIG. 23, the relay construction 20 will remain locked in thetransferred condition of FIG. 23 because the fluid pressure now beingdirected to the control port 35 by the opened valve seat 39 also flowsthrough the passage 113 and the cutout 112 in the gasket member 31 tothe passage 104 and thus to the chamber 61 to maintain the fluidpressure in the chamber 61 and thereby hold the relay construction 20 inthe transferred condition of FIG. 23 even ifthe signal device issubsequently turned off.

Therefore, in order to cause the relay construction 20 to return back tothe position illustrated in FIG. 22, the fluid pressure in the chamber61 must be vented in some manner, such as by having the signal device115 subsequently interconnect the port 34 to a vent either manually orautomatically as the case may be.

Accordingly, it can be seen that by merely changing the position of thepart 31 relative to the housing means 21, the relay construction can beadapted to act as a general purpose relay, a normally open relay with anupstream orifice, a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice, or anormally closed relay with a downstream orifice.

Further, by providing the indicating means 100 on the selectivelyrepositioned part 31 and providing the coding means 101 on the end plate27, a user of the relay construction 20 can readily determine whatoperating function will be provided by the relay construction 20 in anyof the assembled conditions thereof.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides animproved relay construction, but also this invention provides animproved method for making such a relay construction or the like.

While the forms of the invention now preferred have been described andillustrated as required by the Patent Statutes, it is to be understoodthat other forms can be utilized and still come within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A relay construction comprising a housing means having port means,valve means disposed in said housing means, and passage means in saidhousing means interconnecting with said port means and said valve means,said housing means including means thereof adapted to be selectivelyrepositioned for changing the path arrangement of said passage meansand, thus, the

operating function of said relay construction, said housing meanscomprising a plurality of sections disposed in stacked aligned relation,said means adapted to be selectively repositioned comprising one of saidhousing sections that is disposed intermediate the outer sections ofsaid stack thereof, said one housing section comprising a flexiblegasket member that seals adjacent housing sections together in saidstack thereof.

2. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one sectionof said housing means comprises plate means.

3. A relay construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plate hasindicator means thereof to indicate its assembled position.

4. A relay construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said indicatormeans comprises a tab on said plate means that projects outwardly ofsaid housing means.

5. A relay construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housingmeans has a longitudinal axis, said plate means being adapted to berotated about said axis to said selected positions thereof.

6. A relay construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housingmeans has a longitudinal axis, said plate means being adapted to bedisposed in different stacked relation along said axis to said selectedpositions thereof.

7. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selectedposition of said means of said housing means causes said relayconstruction to operate as a general purpose relay.

8. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selectedposition of said means of said housing means causes said relayconstruction to operate as a normally open relay with an upstreamorifice.

9. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selectedposition of said means of said housing means causes said relayconstruction to operate as a normally closed relay with a downstreamorifice.

10. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selectedposition of said means of said housing means causes said relayconstruction to oper ate as normally closed relay with an upstreamorifice.

11. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selectedposition of said means of said housing means causes said relayconstruction to, operate as a general purpose relay, another selectedposition of said means of said housing means causing said relayconstruction to operate as a normally open relay with an upstreamorifice, another selected position of said means of said housing meanscausing said relay construction to operate as a normally closed relaywith a downstream orifice, and another selected position of said meansof said housing means causing said relay construction to operate as anormally closed relay with an upstream orifice.

12. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of theouter sections of said stack thereof has a key indicator means thereonto indicate the various operating positions of said one section.

13. A relay construction as set forth in claim 12 wherein said onesection has a tab thereon that projects out from said stack in eachoperating position thereof, said key indicator means on said one outersection illustrating the various tab projecting positions of said onesection.

1. A relay construction comprising a housing means having port means,valve means disposed in said housing means, and passage means in saidhousing means interconnecting with said port means and said valve means,said housing means including means thereof adapted to be selectivelyrepositioned for changing the path arrangement of said passage meansand, thus, the operating function of said relay construction, saidhousing means comprising a plurality of sections disposed in stackedaligned relation, said means adapted to be selectively repositionedcomprising one of said housing sections that is disposed intermediatethe outer sections of said stack thereof, said one housing sectioncomprising a flexible gasket member that seals adjacent housing sectionstogether in said stack thereof.
 2. A relay construction as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said one section of said housing means comprises platemeans.
 3. A relay construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidplate has indicator means thereof to indicate its assembled position. 4.A relay construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said indicatormeans comprises a tab on said plate means that projects outwardly ofsaid housing means.
 5. A relay construction as set forth in claim 2wherein said housing means has a longitudinal axis, said plate meansbeing adapted to be rotated about said axis to said selected positionsthereof.
 6. A relay construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidhousing means has a longitudinal axis, said plate means being adapted tobe disposed in different stacked relation along said axis to saidselected positions thereof.
 7. A relay construction as set forth inclaim 1 wherein one selected position of said means of said housingmeans causes said relay construction to operate as a general purposerelay.
 8. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein oneselected position of said means of said housing means causes said relayconstruction to operate as a normally open relay with an upstreamorifice.
 9. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein oneselected position of said means of said housing means causes said relayconstruction to operate as a normally closed relay with a downstreamorifice.
 10. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein oneselected position of said means of said housing means causes said relayconstruction to operate as normally closed relay with an upstreamorifice.
 11. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein oneselected position of said means of said housing means causes said relayconstruction to operate as a general purpose relay, another selectedposition of said means of said housing means causing said relayconstruction to operate as a normally open relay with an upstreamorifice, another selected position of said means of said housing meanscausing said relay construction to operate as a normally closed relaywith A downstream orifice, and another selected position of said meansof said housing means causing said relay construction to operate as anormally closed relay with an upstream orifice.
 12. A relay constructionas set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the outer sections of said stackthereof has a key indicator means thereon to indicate the variousoperating positions of said one section.
 13. A relay construction as setforth in claim 12 wherein said one section has a tab thereon thatprojects out from said stack in each operating position thereof, saidkey indicator means on said one outer section illustrating the varioustab projecting positions of said one section.